I was born with a hammer in my hand
It’s the kind of life I doubt you’d understand
I’d give most everything just to hear that cold steel ring
I was born with a hammer in my hand
John Henry was a steel-drivin’ man
You could hear his hammer ring across the land
But before the steam drill came, John Henry knew my name
I was born with a hammer in my hand
Swingin’ steel’s the only life I’ve known
I’ve never been afraid to be alone
I know my Mama understands I’ll always be a working man
I was born with a hammer in my hand
The stro-boss tries to break a good man’s back
He takes thirty men to lay a mile of track
But if my shaker holds the line, they’ll be thirty miles behind me
I was born with a hammer in my hand
Well they say John Henry is the man
You can hear his hammer ring across the land
But if you put us side by side, he’d have to run and hide
‘cause I was born with a hammer in my hand
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Lyrics submitted by Samdaman.